Cindy Hit a Record

The week of July 1st Cindy, the lady that runs "Cats Cry Too" did a record TNR run. She took 30 cats and kittens in to be fixed in ONE WEEK! This was a record for Cindy! What an amazing job! Fixing these cats will help their overall health, but also cause them to be less likely to spray, or fight for territory or mates. These cats also all got their rabies shots and an overall check up. Any that needed it were treated. I do know "Bill the Cat" received 3 stitches and others got treatment for fleas and ear mites...and if necessary they received treatment with antibiotics. Returning these cats to the location they were trapped helps the cat settle back in and also helps those areas keep the population down as having cats deter other cats from coming around. Congrats on a GREAT week and your RECORD Run Cindy!

Grant Received! The TNR begins!

Just this past May Cindy Balsm and her TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) organization “Cats Cry Too” were  awarded  a Grant, called "Neighbors Helping Neighbors Grant".   This grant is geared to a specific Neighborhood in Leamington Ontario.

The Above picture is of some of the cats Cindy recently had fixed under the Grant she received.

 The boundaries for the area this grant covers is  Talbot Street, Lutsch Street, Oak Street, Erie Street.  And currently Cindy has concentrated on a block on Setterington St. and 2 blocks on Orange St., and also trapping on Robinson Street and Bowman street so far.

Cindy has lived in this neighbourhood for 21 years so she knows the area well.  Jogging in the evening or driving through the streets at night she would see a lot of roaming cats

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Then the more Cindy became involved and receiving numerous calls from people, she could really see how huge the problem was in that area.   So in order to apply for the grant and show there was a need, Cindy went door to door with a petition and was able to confirm the huge problem.

The committee was very interested in such a proposal because it was unique and they were not at all aware there was such a problem with cats in the Mill Street neighbourhood.

The grant doesn't cover a lot of cats to get fixed but it is a start and the committee wanted this to be a pilot project. A volunteer has been enlisted to create a spreadsheet to help Cindy,  so they can keep a record of the cats, their addresses where trapped, colour, picture, Chip ID#, date of surgery, etc.

As for the trapping, Cindy gets the assistance of the neighbors and leaves specific instructions and gives a little training on how to trap the cats safely, and this is how the cats have been getting caught within this neighbourhood.  Cindy then picks up the cats and takes them to the Humane Society where they are “altered”.  Then Cindy or her associate picks up the cats.  Cindy does keep them for a day to ensure there are no complications. And then they are released back where they were trapped.

Cindy is excited and is getting lots of support.  The People are only too happy to have them fixed so they do not reproduce!  Cindy has also given food that has been donated to help feed these outside guys.

Since being awarded with this grant program, Cindy has fixed 11 cats within the boundaries of this grant with more to come, and 17 cats this past week with the help of private donations.

We will continue to update more on other cats fixed within the Grant...but also updating on fixed cats that are not within the grant but through private donations and community support.

The "Downspout Kitty"

Cindy got a call in April for assistance. That there was a cat running around with a "downspout tube" around his neck. As Cindy inquired she came to find out that this cat had been in this predicament since last summer with many neighbors having seen him.

I think what was disheartening to Cindy was this was the first she was hearing from it, and no other rescue organization had been alerted as well as the Humane Society had not been informed either.

Luckily the lady who did contact her and another lady had recently seen this distressed animal and themselves tried to capture him and help him but to no avail. They did start feeding him which was great because it made him come around more.

On her way to pick up another cat from the woman who had reported the situation to Cindy....low and behold the "downspout cat" appeared!

Well we all know Cindy JUMPED into action, grabbing food and a trap and off she went chasing after this poor animal inadvertently leaving her car running, she followed the cat through the neighborhood, across peoples lawns, backyard....YEP she was on a mission! AND she caught him! Once in the safetrap the little guy gobbled down the food!

Cindy quickly took him in to not only have the downspout removed it was also his "fixing" appointment. His fur was completely gone where the tube had been rubbing...and there were scratches on the tube where it was obvious he had tried unsuccessfully to remove it himself. Can you imagine him living that way through last summer, fall, winter, spring. Sad.

The "downspout" cat is now at Cindy's sanctuary in a private area, but when feeling better will be introduced to the "Cats Away Refuge". She didn't have the heart to put him back in a neighborhood where no one seemed to care, (other than these wonder ladies that contacted Cindy) enough to make a phone call until these lady noticed him and Cindy was finally contacted.

He still has sad eyes....but warming up to his new situation and becoming much less timid.

UPDATE!!! Ember has been Adopted.

We are excited and happy to announce that Ember has been adopted and once she is a little bit bigger she will be traveling to a wonderful family and be  loved by many!

Ember was found in a ditch along side her brother Oreo, but luckily Embers crys were loud enough to catch the attention of a man in the vicinity.  He climbed down into the ditch..(and if you know this area the ditches can be REALLY deep).  Once collected it was determined they were about 5 weeks old.  So although Ember has been officially adopted she and her brother will remain at their foster home for the moment until they are just a little bit bigger.  BUT we are happy to say they are eating hard food, and already using the litter box thanks to Cindy's "Loving Boot Camp".  Also they are getting lots of socialization so that they are ready for all their hugs, kisses and cuddles with her new family.

The adoptive family (Mom and Dad) are excited to surprise the kid with their new family member!  Won't THEY be heroes! And what a great way to teach children responsibility.  I hope they get pictures of the kids faces when they meet Ember!

Ember is up for Adoption!

Click the picture to enlarge.

Are you Embers Forever Family?

Winter is looking for his forever family.

Click the picture to enlarge.

Is that you?

Oreo.....Looking for a Forever Family

Click the Picture to Enlarge:

Adopted!

Excited to announce that "Lil Leo" was adopted yesterday into a wonderful family where he is going to receive a ton of cuddles and love!

Our First Post

Hi Everyone,

Although "Cats Cry Too" has been around for awhile, we are stepping it up and taking it to the next level.  We are creating more ways to share with all of you what we are working on, who is up for adoption and success stories.

We want to continue to make a difference by helping abandoned felines find their forever families, but also help the community by spay and neutering feral cats that are not socialized for adoption, but limit their ability to reproduce and over populate.

More info to come soon as we just get things set up. There is lots to do!

In the meantime this is Holstein who was just rescued yesterday from a ditch abandoned, very thin cold and hungry he and his sister are now in the care of a foster family until they are well enough and had medical care and also old enough to be adopted....isn't he cute!